Min Ho

He had just come back from his hometown. As soon as he entered, he dumped a bunch of brochures on my table.

“Let’s select one of these, okay Min Ho? Anyways, we’re planning to study abroad, so why not study together?” He wouldn’t leave until I agreed, so I nodded. He smiled and went off to take a bath.

Maybe he was right in a way. What’s wrong in giving it a try? At least I could go to college with him. There was no harm in that, though I didn’t agree with the job part. I started looking through the details.

“Hyun Woo, about that countryside trip for topping high school — it seems they’ll send only one person. So even if both of us excel, there’s no use.” I smiled as I served food on the table. It was already night; I wasn’t sure why he returned at night itself. He could have come tomorrow morning.

“How could that be? Your information must be wrong. I’ll check with my father tomorrow — he’s on the board, so he’ll know. No matter how many people stand first, they should send all on the trip,” he blabbered, stuffing his mouth while watching TV.

“Eat slowly, you’re dropping food everywhere. I’m going to sleep. Make sure you turn off the TV before bed. If I find you sleeping on the sofa with it on, it won’t be good for you.”

He waved me away without looking.

“By the way, you do know we were given some assignments over the holiday. Have you done them?” I asked, already knowing the answer. I quickly went into the bedroom, sat with my notes under the lamp. He came running in, out of breath.

“Shit, I forgot all about it.” He sat on the floor near the bed while I was on the bed. His hands moved to my feet. “So, master, if I press your feet, will you please make a copy of the assignment for me? Since you know how dumb I am, right?” He made those puppy eyes.

“That you are. But why would I copy the assignments?” I said without looking at him.

He started pressing my feet. Seeing no response, he placed his cheek on my foot. “Can you please help me this time, just once? I’m at your feet, at your mercy.”

I couldn’t say no to such a face.

“Alright, get up, get up. I’ll do it.” I laughed.

He abruptly got up and kissed me on the cheek. “You’re the sweetest.”

“What the heck…” I wiped my cheek, about to kick him, but he ran away and started watching TV again.

School had started. One day I got late from my part‑time shift. He wasn’t waiting for me today — I had already told him to go ahead. Instead, it was his sister outside the supermarket.

“Hey,” she waved. “So, did Hyun Woo give you the brochures for the universities? Are you planning to join him?”

“I haven’t thought yet, but—”

She cut me off. “Min Ho, I expect you to be more mature than him. You know you both can’t tag along forever. Why not go different ways now rather than later? He’s childish, always making stupid decisions. When you beat him in chess, he decided to befriend you and then cut all ties after high school so you’d miss him. He said you rarely laughed or cried, you lacked emotions, so he wanted to see some tears — all that stupid stuff.”

What was she even saying?

“I stopped him then too, but later thought, anyway, two years later this would all end. I know you’re strong, so it’s not like you’ll cry all your life. But this new plan of his — to take you along to university, then onto a job — don’t you think it’s too much?”

She was right. After all, we always belonged to different worlds.

“I can’t expect him to understand, but I know you’re sensible. Can you find a way he goes to the US without you? You’re brilliant, you’ll get into a great university on your own. Let me know if I can help.” She smiled, with a hint of sadness.

“There’s nothing wrong with being friends, but if he depends so much on you, it becomes a weakness. Friends should be strength, not weakness. And you don’t know my father — he doesn’t tolerate emotional weakness in his children. If he could, he’d turn us into robots. Can you help me this time, please?” she pleaded.

“Sure.” My heart was in pain. “I wasn’t planning to go with him anyway. I had other plans. But you know how stubborn he is. Since now I have you to help me, we can think of something.” I forced a smile.

“Yes. I’ll get in touch with you. Bye.” She left.

I didn’t feel well. I wanted to run away, but exams were approaching, so I couldn’t miss classes. At the classroom door, he looked at me with an expression that said, ‘What is this?’ I apologized to the teacher and sat in the first row. He looked puzzled — he must have thought I’d sit in the usual seat next to him.

I couldn’t be in his presence, at least for now. I needed space.

My phone started vibrating. I knew whose messages they were. I peeked at one: “What happened?” Then I turned off my phone.

Once class ended, I tried to leave before he could catch me. Some of his friends surrounded him, but he kept dodging them, stretching his neck to see if I had already gone.

I started running, but suddenly I tripped and fell face‑down. My lower lip split, my cheek scratched. When I looked up, I saw one of his friends laughing.

“You think you can make Hyun Woo dance to your tune? That day he left all of us at his own birthday party because of you. He used to be a party animal before you. Now are you so important that he leaves early? He doesn’t even meet us anymore…”

Before he could finish, he was knocked down. It was Hyun Woo.

I got up. He was staring at me, then his gaze dropped to my bleeding lip. His eyes were bloodshot.

The only sound left was the thud of constant punches and the guy’s cries of pain. Hyun Woo kept beating him, never breaking eye contact with me.

Everyone around was staring at me.

Then a teacher dragged him toward the principal’s office. Even then, his eyes stayed fixed on me.

I couldn’t take it anymore. I left.

When I turned on my phone, it was flooded with missed calls and messages. The last one read: “You better tell me what happened.”

I knew I couldn’t avoid him forever, but right now I didn’t have the strength. So, I got ready and left for my evening part‑time shift earlier than usual.

By the time I left at night, he was already waiting outside the tuition class.

“Min Ho, you know my patience is thin. What’s with this behaviour? You’ll have to tell me; else I won’t stop.” He caught my arm. It hurt, and I winced. He realized and quickly let go.

“Don’t cause a scene here. Get on the bike. Let’s talk at home,” I told him.

His patience is thin — in fact, he has none at all. When he’s anxious, his left eye twitches. That’s when one should really avoid him.

“Now tell me,” He demanded, holding my hand even before we entered the house.

“Can we at least sit?” I asked, pulling my hand free. “Nothing happened. Just… one of your friends met me before class. He said the same things as the one you beat. I was angry, that’s all. I’m fine now.”

I didn’t give him the truth. There was no point. His sister had said it was better to cut clean once school ends. I needed to think how to do that.

As soon as he heard, he breathed a sigh of relief. “Okay, that’s the reason.”

“Why? Is there anything else you’ve hidden from me?” I asked, looking straight into his eyes. His gaze shifted away, head down. Lying again.

“No, there’s nothing. I’ll beat the crap out of that guy tomorrow as well. How dare he.” He reached to touch my lips. I pushed his hand away and got up to go into the bedroom.

“What about dinner?” he followed. “Let me serve you. I made it today. You must be hungry.”

“Not today, Hyun Woo. I’m tired. I’m sleeping.” I pulled the blanket over me.

Five minutes later, my right leg was under weight again. He had also lain down.

“You’re not eating?” I asked from under the blanket.

“I’m not hungry either. Are you in pain, Min Ho? What can I do to make it less?” His voice was full of concern.

Yes, I was in pain. And he was the cause. But the strange thing was — I still couldn’t hate him for that.

“I’m okay,” I whispered.

He lifted the blanket and turned my face toward him with his hand.

“I wanted to tell you something… but I can only say it in the dark, because I don’t have the courage to face you in the light.

Min Ho, when you first beat me in chess, I was furious - embarrassed in front of everyone. I made a bet with my sister that I’d become your friend, only to abandon you after high school, just to see you cry. That was my childish plan. But believe me, the moment I moved here, that bet stopped mattering. I forgot it long ago.

Since day one, you’ve been a friend to me. If I worry about anyone, it’s you. If I think about anyone day and night, it’s you.

You have to stay with me. Do you understand? I can’t bear it when you’re angry with me. I can’t take it if you ever decide to leave me. If you even think of abandoning me… I won’t allow it.”

His hand tightened on my chin, his other hand pressing into my shoulder. His breath trembled against my face, his voice breaking — almost a sob.

I touched his face and wiped his tears. “It’s okay, don’t sob. Are you saying sorry?” I asked, laughing softly.

“Yes… I am sorry. I’m so, so sorry.” He hugged me so tightly I could hardly breathe.

I patted his back. “I forgive you. You’ve forgiven me so many times — it’s okay, Hyun Woo.”

But even as I said it, I knew forgiveness wouldn’t change what I had already decided. His arms around me felt like chains and comfort at once. His tears were real, his voice breaking, his desperation raw — yet my mind was steady.

Six months from now, we will go our separate ways. Whether he likes it or not.